Fishing funnel



Jan. 1, 1935. E, E. mma-MT amecum FISHING FUNNEL Filed June 24, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVEN 0R.

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Jan. 1, 1935. E, 3 SARGENT ,986,121

FISHING FUNNEL Filed June 24, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 5'? j J1 [[27 LL L l ,Tn

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Jam 1, 1935-` E. B. 4sARGEN-r 1,986,121

FISHING FUNNEL Filed June 24, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 1, 1935 FISHING FUNNEL Edward B. Sargent, Mount Lebanon, Pa., assignor, l

by niesne assignments, to H. H.

Robertson Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation Application June 24, 1932, Serial No. 619,090-

This Vinvention relates to underfloor wiring conduit systems, and more particularly to apparatus for facilitating the withdrawing of conductors from the hollow sheet metal beams of a metallic basev oor.

. One object of this invention is to provide a novel and eflicient fitting for use with the hollowv beams of a metallic base floor for fishing and withdrawing conductors from the beams.

Avfurther object is to provide a novel iltting for use in connection with the hollow sheet metal beams of a metallic base hoor to aid in the'v leading of wires-or conductors through said 'beams and through an opening in the beam at a point removed from the place where the wire is introduced into the beam.

A still further object is to provide a fitting for use in ilshing or withdrawing wires lfrom a conduit or a hollow 'sheet metal iloor beam having a wire deflecting portion and a rounded wire pulling surface.'

A still further object is to provide a ntting for use in withdrawing conductors or wires from an underiloor conduit or hollow sheet metal beamwhereby the wires being led through the conductor or beam will be deected and led out of the conduit or beam. i These and other objects which will hereinafter be made readily apparent to those skilled in thisl particular art are accomplished by means of this invention, one embodiment of which consists in the various structures, arrangements, and combinations of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a. view in longitudinal section of a hollow sheet metal floor beam equipped with I one embodiment of my invention; i

Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal section of a hollow sheet metal iioor beam showing my im'-` proved iitting opening through the bottom of' the beams; l

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on lines III-III of Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is 'a top plan View of the beam and iitting illustrated in Figure 1;

Fig 5 is a view in longitudinal section of a hollow sheet metal yfloor beam provided with a fitting embodying a modification of my inven- 50 tion;

. Fig. 6 is a view -other modification of my invention;

Fig. 7 is a plan View of the beam and fitting illustrated in Figure 6; liliA Fig. 8 is a plan view of a portion of a holvfor the wires or conductors.

in longitudinal section of ari-y low beam iloor embodying a modified form of the invention shown in Figure 6;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view `of al hollow sheet metal beam flooring, illustrating apparatus for converting the interior of the beaminto an 5 underiioor wiring conduit; and

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a section of a hollow sheet metal beam iloor, showing the application of my fitting to the beams to form an under-4 floor wiring conduit system. 10

In the construction of modern buildings it is becoming more and more common to replace the tile sub-floors in the building with metallic floors 'which are formed of a series of closely spaced,

hollow sheet metal beam sections. These sections l5 of hollow sheet metal beams are supportedY on the steelwork of the building and. are so arranged that the interiors of the beams in one section open into the interiors of the beams of another section and form contiguous passageways which 20 are suitable for use as conduits for the reception of electrical wiring in the building.

The present invention contemplates the provi- .sion of a fitting which for convenience may be termed a fishing funnel for Vuse in facilitating 25 thev iishing or withdrawing of electrical `wiring or conductors from these hollow beams of the metallic base iloor. i

In the construction of the building the metallic base door is first erected and then a finish door, 80'

such as concrete or the like, is applied over the surface of the hollow beams. In applying my fishing funnel to the beams I first form an opening in the top of the beams through which the funnel is inserted intothel interior of the beam. 35 The funnel itself is'co'nnected to a plate which, when the funnel is in place in the beam, forms aA cover .for the opening'cut in the beam and restores the original strength of the beam. The

, funnel is substantially' of L-shape and terminates 40 at one end in a ared-out portion .which forms a bell mouth of substantially the same size and shape as the interior oi the beam into which it is inserted so that it completely illls the beam and deilects any wires being led therethrough into the body o1 the funnel. The funnel tapers from the flared out portion and is gradually curved so as to form a rounded pulling surface The other end oi! the funnel is adapted to project beyond the wall of the beam and may extend through an opening formed in the bottom or side of the beam or in the cover plate. The projecting end of the funnel may extend at right angles tothe interior Q1.' the beam or in any other suitable direction 55 suitable junction box.-

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When my improved funnel has been positioned in a beam intermediate of the end, it is obvious that one end of the beam is dead since the flared end of the funnel lcompletely closes the interior of the beam and prevents the wires from being. extended the full length thereof.

To enable conductors of the-electrical wiring system to be inserted into the beam from each end, lthe fittings may becombined in( pairs and arranged so that the ared'or bell mouths on the endsthereof inserted into the beams face in opposite directions. This feature of my invention permits the wiring to beflshedI from opposite ends of the beams .or withdrawn from the beam at a point intermediate its ends.

Referring now. tofjthe drawings in detail, I have plied to a hollow sheet metal beam 1l of a metallic base Whilel have illustrated the tunnels embodying my invention are inserted in to preselected beams 11 for facilitating the ilshing or withdrawal of electrical wiring therefrom. To install my improved fitting the top of the selected beam 11 is cut away to provide an opening 14 therein for the introduction of the funnel.

The funnel comprises a hollow member 15 of substantially L-shape which terminates at one end in a flare or bell mouth 16 of substantially the same shape and size as the interior of the beam 11 in which it is to be inserted so that it will fit snugly therein, engaging the walls of the beam and deflect wires being led therethrough into the member 15. The funnel tapers or converges gradually 'Irom the bell mouth 16 and terminates at the opposite end in a cylindrical portion 17 which is adapted to extend beyond the wall of the beam 11. 'I'his cylindrical portion 17 of the tting has a ange 18 formed therearound which supports a pme 19. The plate is secured to the flange 18 through a nut 20 threaded over the end of the cylindrical portion 17. The plate 19 is .substantially of channel shape and has legs 21- 'depending therefrom so that4 when the funnel has been inserted into the interior ofthe hollow beam, the plate covers the top and side of the beam 1-1 and holds the iitting in position in the beam.

In order to restore the original strength of the beam 11 the plate 1,9 maybe welded tcgthe top of the beam or secured thereto in any other suitable manner. The threaded end of the cylindrical portion 17 may beattached to a suitable conduit (not shown) forleading the wire lished from the beam 11 to a junction box (not shown) or otherA source of electrical supply and may extendat right angles to the interior of the beam (Figs. y.l and 3) or the end of the funnel 15 may be bent and internally threaded as in Figure 5, so that it extends. parallel to the passageway of the beam l1. This cylindrical end QI thi: 315D- ing funnel may also extend beyond the bottom or side of the beam 11 as well as above the top of the beam, so that an outlet may be formed in the ceiling of the rooms on the floor below the beam, and also to permit the funnel to be connected to a conduit leading to a control switch.

In Figure 2 the funnel 15 is shown inverted with the threaded end portion 17 of the'fltting extending through an opening formed in the bottom of the beam'll in order to enable wiring to be drawnoutwardly and downwardly from the bottom' of the beam to provide a service outlet in the ceiling. In such installations a cover plate 19' is secured to the ared end of the bell mouth 16 and covers the opening 14 formed inthe top of the beam 11 and holds the funnel in its proper position in the beam. The funnel is also secured to the beam through a nut threaded over. the end of the portion 17 project.- ing below the bottom of the beam'.

When the funnel l5 is installed in a beam 11 intermediate of its length, it'is obvious that the wires can be introduced in the beam 1l from only one end since the ilared mouth 16 on the beam completely fills the interior of the beam and as aA result that part of the beam extending in the opposite direction from the flared mouth of the funnel cannot be used as a conduit. So thatl conductors can be introduced into both endsv of the beam and also so that this wiring maybe intercepted intermediate of the length of the beam, the be'ams may be provided with interceptory ilttings (Figures 6, 7, and 8), which are formed by placing two of the ttinzs in the beam so that the bell mouths thereon facev in opposite directions in the beam.

As shown in Figure 6, this interceptory fitting comprises a pair of L-shaped detlecting members 25 which are inserted into the interior of the beam through an opening 26 formed in the top thereof. These members 25 are secured to a cover plate 27 which serves to retain the members in place in the .beams and also to cover the opening 26.

Each of .the members 25 is provided with a aring mouth portion 28 ofsubstantially the same size and shape as the interior of the beam so that they ilt snugly therein and engage the walls thereof. Each of the L-shaped members converge from the bell mouth 28 and terminates in a cylindrical portion 29 which extends through an'opening in the plate 26 and 1s .threaded as at 30 to receive a suitable conduit (not shown) and lead the wires deflected into the funnels by the bell mouths to a suitable source of electrical supply (not shown). A nut 31 threaded over the end ofeach of the cylindrical portions 29 ofthe funnels securely holds the' conductors being fished out of the beams l1. These ilttings, either singly or in combination, may also'be used to provide. in combination with the beams; a complete underoor wiring conduit system. In Figs. 9 and 10, I have shown by way of example, how my ilshing funnels may be wire pulling surface to prevent injury` to the l applied tions 41 which are to the sheet metal h ollow beams 40 of a section of a metallic base floor 4l to form an underiloor wiring system in which the beams themselves form the wiring conduits. These secsupported directly on girders 42 of the framework of the building, form the sub-floor of the building and have a layer of finish flooring material superimposed thereon. Preferably, before the finish flooring'material is placed over the beams 40, the tops of selected beams desired to be used as conduits, are cut away and my fishing funnel 15 (Fig. 9) is in-` serted therein.`.

The end 17 vof the funnel projecting beyond the beam is connected to a conduit pipe 43 which leads to a panel box.44 or any other suitable source of electrical supply. While only one beam of the oor section is shown provided with a fishing funnel, it is understood that each or any desired number of beams may be equipped with my funnels. With this arrangement it is possible to secure at any future time, an outlet at any desired-place 'in the floor by merely drilling an opening through the finish floor into the desired beam and then fishing feed lines through the opening to the panel'box. When the wires are to be inserted into the beams 40 from the panel box 44, the L leading into the interior of the beams may be of substantially the same size and shape throughout its length, and the bell mouth on the end within the beam may be eliminated, since it is only necessary that the wire being fed into the beam be deflected in the proper direction.

While the funnels 15 may be placed in the beams 'at any desired pointalong their length, such as at the ends of the beams (Fig. 10)- or beneath a partition wall, I'prefer to so place them in the beams that the ends thereof will be relatively close to a source of electrical supply. If the funnel is to be placed underneath a partition wall, I prefer to use the double fitting 25 so that the feed wires may be fed into the beam from one end thereof and into one of the funnels 25 and up into the partition where an outlet may be established.- been-wired, the wires may be led downwardly into the beam through the oppositely disposed funnel. In such cases a single funnel 15 may beplaced in the end of the beam so that the feed wires fed into the beam through the funnel 25 may be readily withdrawn'from them and led to a source of supply. From the above it is apparent that the several funnels of both the single and double type may be used in combina.

tion in each beam. In practice these fittings may and preferably will be installed in the selected oor beams by first providing an opening in the desired portion of the beam by burning or cutting in any suitable manner. The fitting is introduced into the interior of the beam and the cover plate installed. After assembly, the cover plate may be fastened to the tops and sides of the beam in any suitable manner so that the original strength of thebeam will be restored thereto. The fittings embodied in this invention may be formed of sheet metal-lor bycasting, or in any other suitable manner. j

While I have 'illustrated and described my fishing funnel as extending beyond the to'p and bottom of the beams,it is to be understood that the end of the funnel may be projected beyond the sides of the beams when it is desired to connect the funnel to a conduit disposed between After the outlet has beam, comprising a hollow end, terminating in a bell mouth of asize closely two of the beams. It is also understood that my improved funnel may be of any desired shape, size, or form without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims. What I claim as new and Letters Patent is: Y

1. The combination with a flooring conduit of a fitting operatively positioned within the conduit for facilitating the withdrawal 'of the end of an electrical connector through an opening in the conduit, comprising a hollow member having one end enlarged to fit the interior of the floor conduit and forma flaring mouth portion, and a right angle elbow connection to the flaring mouth portion and having its end protruding through an opening in the floor conduit and having provision vfor enabling it to be connected to another fitting.

' 2. The combination with a hollow sheet metal desire to secure by floor beam, of a fitting located within said floor tion threaded and extended through a wall of an opening in said hollow beam.

3. 'I'he combination with a base floor composed of a series of closely spaced hollow beams, of a fitting for. facilitating the withdrawal of wiring from the beams, comprising a hollow metal member having a flaring mouth portion positioned in the interior of one of said beams, the marginal portions of said flaring mouth engaging the interior walls of the beam in which it is located, and a second end in Ycommunication with the exterior of the said beam.

4. The combination with a base floor composed of a series of closely spaced hollow beams, of a fitting positioned within a selected beam for facilitating the withdrawal of wiring from the beam comprising a hollow metal member khaving one end flaring and closely fitting the interior walls of the beam, andhav'ing the other end projecting through a wall of the-beam, said.

\ facilitating the withdrawal of the end of an electrical connector through an opening in said member having one fitting the interior of the floor beam, and having its second end extending at substantially right angles to the direction of extension of the beam, and with the part connecting the ends formed to provide a rounded pulling surface.

6. The combination with a collaterally arranged hollow beam base floor, of a fitting operatively positionedwithin pre-selected beams for intercepting and for facilitating in the withdrawal of electrical wiring portions of the beams, comprising two oppositely faced hollow members, each having one end terminating in a bell mouth of a size-closely 'tting the interior of the beam and having its extending at substantially right second lend angles to the direction of extension of the oor cell, and having the Aportion intermediate the ends curved to provide a rounded pulling surface.

7. The combination with a metallic base oor having a series of closely spaced hollow beams, of a fitting operatively positioned withinselected from opposite end comprising two hollow members, each having one end enlarged to fit the interior of the floor cell and forma flaring mouth portion, anda curved hollow conduit connected to each flaring mouth portion and having its end protruding through an opening in the beam and having provision for connection to another iltting.

8. The combination with a wiringconduit of 'means for facilitating the withdrawal of wiring from opposite ends thereof, comprising a fitting entirely within the conduit and provided with two oppositely faced deflecting members and having ends extended outwardly through a wall of the wiring conduit and into which wiring may be 'deflected by said deilectors.

9. The combination with a ooring conduit adapted to contain electrical wiring, of two oppositely faced deilectors positioned entirely within Athe flooring conduit, and two conduits connected with said deilectors withinthe flooring conduit and extending through a horizontal wall of the flooring conduit.

10. The combination with a flooring conduit, of two hollow deilectors located within the conduit and having flaring mouths facing in opposite directions and having'narrower ends projecting through a wall of the conduit.

l1. The combination with a ilooring conduit provided with an opening in the top thereof, of 'a cover member for closing the opening and a pair of oppositely faced hollow deilectors secured to the cover member to be inserted into and removed from the conduit rand having ends projecting through openings in` said cover member 1.2. The combination with a. metauicbase naar` formed from a series of closely spaced hollow beams, of a ttingpositioned in selected of said prising a hollow L-shaped member having a bell mouth fitting snugly within the interior of the beam and a cylindrical mouth projecting beyond the beam, the central portion of said L being curved to provide a rounded pulling surface for said conductors.

14. The combination with a base floor com- .posed of a series of closely spaced hollow beams, yof a fitting for introducing electric feed wires into said hollow beams comprising an L,shaped member located entirely within the hollow beam and having. one end disposed in said beam for directing the feed wire in the proper direction and the opposite end projecting out through a wall of said beam and connected to a source of -electrical supply.

l5. The combination with a flooring conduit, of a ,hollow ntting provided at its opposite ends with mouths of materially different areas and having intermediate said mouths a curved portion tapering from the larger mouth toward the smaller mouth, the intermediate curved portion and the end having the larger mouth beingI located entirely within the conduit and the end having the smaller mouth projecting through a wall'of the conduit.

EDWARD B. SARGENI?` facilitating the withdrawal-of wires 

